antes era

it used to be

→ antes

phrase Uncommon #17,461

it used to be Used to describe a past state or situation that was true for a period of time. Literally, it combines antes (before/formerly) with era (was).

SP: Antes era una casa pequeña.

EN: It used to be a small house.

Antes era banquero.

I used to be a banker.

— Cadena perpetua (1994)

Antes era mío.

It used to be mine.

— Roofman: Un ladrón en el tejado (2025)

Creo que antes era un bar.

I think it used to be a bar.

— The Internship (2026)

Pero ella antes era muy hermosa.

But she used to be very beautiful.

— Un día de furia (1993)

Antes era director de películas.

He used to be a film director.

— Fallen angels (Ángeles caídos) (1995)

Antes era rico, ¿no?

He used to be rich, didn't he?

— Die My Love (2025)

La tumba está en esta biblioteca, que antes era una iglesia.

The tomb is in this library, which used to be a church.

— Indiana Jones y la última cruzada (1989)

Antes era el centro del pueblo.

It used to be the center of the town.

— El médico de Budapest (2020)

Antes era un pez.

I used to be a fish.

— Ponyo en el acantilado (2008)

Mi padre antes era granjero.

My father used to be a farmer.

Antes era derecho.

It used to be straight.

— Tropa de élite (2007)

Antes era profesora de Literatura, pero tuvo que dejarlo.

She used to be a Literature teacher, but she had to quit.

— Contratiempo (2017)

Él no es lo que antes era.

He is not what he used to be.

Digo, antes era un buen chico, pero ahora es más encantador.

I mean, he used to be a nice guy, but now he's more charming.

— Your Name (2016)

Antes era distinto, era el mismo país.

It used to be different; it was the same country.

— Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)